Whether he’s singing or dancing on stage, senior Jacob Happel not only steals the hearts of his audience, but anyone he meets with his positive energy and charming, easy-going attitude.

Happel’s strong involvement in performing arts began when he was still in diapers, and has stayed near and dear to his heart ever since.

“I started acting in my church cantata in third grade, and I started to sing when I was just two years old,” Happel said.

Happel’s passion for music carried on through high school as he joined numerous musical organizations and participated in all the high school musicals.

“I’m in choir, Chamber Choir, band, Pep Band, and was once in marching band. It’s so gratifying to hear all the music come together after hours of practice,” Happel said.

Happel’s musical involvement carried on past choir and band, and onto the stage as he took a leading role in this year’s muical 42^nd Street as Abner Dillon, which led to one of the show’s standout moments.

“This past year I have a part in the musical and played a man in love with a musical actress,” Happel said. “In one of the scenes we were in the dressing room and her line was about her wanting to be alone with me. My character’s legs started to shake because of how happy and excited he was. It made everyone in the audience crack up.”

Happel also shines in the high school communities through clubs and sports.

“I’m the treasurer for Ecology Club as well as a kicker on the football team and a javelin thrower for track and field,” Happel said.

As Happel’s senior year comes to an end, he has placed all his academic ducks in a row and determined what he wants to do with the rest of his life.

“I first became interested in metal fabrication when I started to blacksmith. I loved working with metal and was extremely interested in the whole process,” Happel said.

Happel plans to study metal fabrication at Penn College this fall with a minor in brewing and fermentation.

“I was first introduced to brewing and fermentation when my dad’s cousin started to make beer and I began to help him in the process,” Happel said. “Once I get enough money and time on my hands I will be able to use my skills from metal fabrication to build my own tanks to brew myself.”

The decision to attend Penn College was easy once Happel knew what he wanted to do in life.

“I chose Penn College over a different technical school because you still get a college experience and a degree instead of a certificate,” Happel said.

The closer graduation comes, the more nostalgic Happel begins to feel.

“Everyone in high school is part of a community, and what I mean by that is that everyone supports one another and will come out and cheer them on at sporting events, plays, or other school related activities,” Happel said.

As Happel prepares to leave home and begin new journeys, there is one guarantee: his talent and good hearted personality will stay with him no matter what.